Clutch check



June17,193o. J RQDG'ER 7 1,764,752

CLUTCH CHECK Filed May 22, 1928 2 sheets-sheet 2 cfr-fm uvljr @MM2/wmPatented June 17, 1930 y :rom: novena, 'or narsu:4 mnsnownn,`iunmnsnmvnna oLUTcn c'ncx Application illed lay 22,"

My invention relates to'new and useful improvements in a clutch checkand has for lon'e ofits objects to generally improve the construction ofdevices of this character so as to be of simple construction, small andcompact although strong and durable and` eiliclent in o eration. o

Another o ject of my invent-ion 1 s to provide two coacting elements,exemplliied 1n a l 1o dash pot supported by a suitable part of theautomobile and lever mounted upon lthe clutch pedal and capableofadjustment for regulating the point at which the action of the checkwill begin and also to provide for the connection of the lever withdifferent forms of clutch pedals.

AA further object of the invention is to provide readily accessibleadjusting means for regulating the outward stroke of the dash potpiston.

With these ends in view, this invention consists in the details ofconstruction and combination of elements hereinafter set forth and thenspecifically designated by the claims.

In order that those skilled in the art to which this'inventionappertains may understand how to make and use the same, I will describeits .construction in detail, referring by numerals to the accompanyingdrawings forming a part of this application, in which:

Fig. l, is a side elevation of my improved clutch check showing portionsof the-dash pot in longitudinal vertical section and illustrating themanner in which it is applied to an automobile. l

Fig. 2, is a section'of the dash poton the line 2-2 of Fig. 1 with thepetcock in elevation. l

Fig. 3, is also .a section the line 3-3 of Fig. 1. F' Fig. 4,' is afragmentary plan view of Fig. 5, is a side elevation of the main partsof the device illustrated in Fig. 1, showing the clutch lever ,in theoperative position.

Fig. 6, is a face. view of the operating arm of the clutch lever.

Fig. 7 is an edge view/thereof.

Fig. 8, is a face view of the clamp member of the dash pot on described.

1928. Serial N0. 279,679.4

of the clutch'lever view thereof. v

In carrying outl my invention as herein embodied, 10 represents a'clutch pedal mounted upon an end of the shaft v11 'of the 55 clutchoperating fork (not shown) located as usual within the clutch housing ofthe automobile.

0n the clutch pedal is removably mounted the clamp member 12 oftheclutch lever 13 so by means of U-bolts 14 or their equivalentsurrounding the clutch pedal and passing through ears 15 formed on theclamp mem ber with nuts 16 threaded on the ends of and Fig. 9, is anedge said U-bolts. The clamp member 12 is'proo5 vided with a hub 17having an aperture 18 therethrough of rectangular cross section andprovided with serrations 19 on one face. The reference numeral 20denotes `the operating arm of the clutch lever and is provided at oneend with a hub l2l having serrations 22 on one face for coaction withthe serrations on the hub of the clamp member and through lthis hub is acircular openin 23 for registration with the bolt -24. which 76' has arectangular portion mounted in the hole 18 and on the bolt is a nut 25to hold the p arts together in any predetermined adjustment. The otheror outer free end of the operating arm is provided with an exso tendedcontact portion 26 for coaction with the piston rod of the dash pot tobe presently The dash pot designated as a whole by the numeral 27 1ssupported by a bracket 28 or. as any other suitable part of theautomobile and includes a cylinder 28a provided with a pistoncompartment 29' and a by-pass 30 communicating with said pistoncompartment at its lower end through an aperture 9o 31 and also with theupper end of said compartment through an aperture 32 and said cylinderis also provided at the lower. end of the by-pass with a threadedaperture 33 for the reception of a petcock 34` whereby liquid 95 orfluid in the kcylinder may be drained therefrom.

The upper open end of the cylinder is nor-` mally closed by a suitablecover 35 provided with a central opening 36 for the passage of 100 trathe piston rod and about this opening is located a stuiing box 37 andsaid cover is also provided with an opening 38 for the reception of thevalve screw 39 which projects into the by-pass 30 and coacts with theaperture 32 to regulate the flow of fluid between the piston compartmentand said by-pass.

lVithin the piston compartment is slidabiy mounted a piston 40 providedwith a piston rod 41 projecting through the hole 36 and the stuiing box.This piston rod is preferably threaded into the piston so that a portionprojects beyond the lower tace and on said projecting end is threaded anut i2 having a reduced portion. lying toward the piston face, thusproviding a space between the nut and piston for the check valve 43resembling a washer, said check valve controlling the tiow of fluidthrough a plurality of passageways 44 through the piston.

Thepiston is normally forced in one direction or upward by a spring 45located between the bottom of the cylinder and said piston and thedistance of t e upward movement of said piston may be regulated to someextent by the stop screw 46 threaded through 'the cover 35 and byadjusting said screw longitudinally, the stroke of the piston may bevaried.

"n actual practice, the dash pot may be provided with a threaded screwor post i7 at the bettom end and an associated nut 48 fer securing thedash pot to the bracket 28 er any other part of the automobile. Theoperation of the device is as follcws':-

The cylinder is filled with a suitable fluid and with 'the ciutch pedalin its normal positien shown in Fig. 5, the piston 40 is in 'the lowerpcrtion of the piston compartment.

'When the cintch pedal is released, one ortica ci 'the ciutch will' beforced into eni t with another portion thereof in ner and during themovement oie l .nember into the open., clutch pedal will -be i theposition shown in Fig. 5 so hat the 2Gl will engage the upper cuter ci?the piston rod t1 and thereafter the piston 40 will be moved downwardagainst the action of the spring 15 and the iiqiiid contained in thelower part of the piston compartment causing the valve 43 to close thepassageways 44 so that the iuid in the lower part of the piston-compartment will have to pass through the aperture 3l into the by-pass3() and then through the aperture 32 into the upper part of the pistoncompartment and since the valve screw 39 can be adjusted to regulate theflow of iiuid through said aperture 32, thel downward movement of thepiston will be checked thus checking or cushioning the final movement ofthe movable clutch element so that it will gradually take a firm holduupon the companion member of the clutch.

One of the effects of this cushioning or checking of the movement of theclutch into its operative position is the relieving of the usual jumpingor jarring of the automobile since the clutch will always move' intoengagement at the Sallie speed.

From the foregoing, it will be obvious that the stroke of the piston maybe readily regulated b means of the screw stop 46 so that the chec ingaction may take place over an desired length of stroke and due to the aj ustability between the arm 20 and the clam member l2 or the clutchpedal to which it 1s fastened, the movement of .the clutch pedal priorto being checked by the device may be varied and may be adjusted toaccommodate the position o' the mounting oit the dash pot in differenttypes of automobiles.

'Of course l do not wish to be limited to the exact details ofconstruction as herein shown, as these may be varied within the limitsof the appended claims without departing from the spirit of myinvention.

Having thus fully described my invention, what l claim as new and usefulis l. A clutch check comprising a cylinder lhaving a piston compartmenttherein, a bypass at one side of said compartment and communicating atopposite ends with adjacent ends of the piston compartment throughapertures in a wall of the ley-pass, a piston vslidably mounted in thepiston compartment between the two apertures forming communications withthe cy-pass, said piston having passageways therethrough, a check valvecontrolling said passageways, a spring tending to force the istonupward, a screw stop fer regulating the stroke of the piston, means toregulate the flow et iiid through the by-pass into the upper portion ofthe piston compartment, a piston red carried by the piston andprejecting through the head of the ci linder, and means for connectionwith the cintch pedal et automobile for co-cperation with the piston rod'for checking the movement oi the clutch pedal and associated parte inthe ciutch engaging pressure operated valve to control said passageways,a spring to move the piston toward the end of the cylinder where theyvalve controlled communication of the by-pass is located, a piston rodconnected with the piston and extendin through the end of the cylinderwhere san? valve controlled communication of the by-pass is located, aScrew stop threaded through the end of'the cylinder Where said valvecontrolled communication of the by-pass is located for regulating thelength of the stroke of the iston and its piston rod, and means carriedy a clutch pedal for coaction with the piston rod Whereby said pedal isretarded during the latter part of its movement in one direction Withoutafecting its movement in the opposite direction.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto af-4 fixed my signature.l

, JOHN RODGER.

